Lindegaard’s performance prompted ITV’s Kelly Cates – daughter of Liverpoolmanager Kenny Dalglish – to ask Ferguson whether De Gea’s position was under threat. He responded with a bad-tempered attack on what he described as a “stupid” question.

Now the United manager claims forces in the press are deliberately trying to undermine De Gea.

Ferguson said: “There’s obviously an agenda on De Gea and we experienced that with the press again on Wednesday night after the game in Benfica.

“For some reason they are desperate for the boy to fail and I don’t understand it. He will be back in the team against Chelsea absolutely – that was always the arrangement.

“It’s nothing to do with his age, they never did that with [Petr] Cech [when he joined Chelsea].

“He’s 20 and he’s coming into a country where he doesn’t know the culture. There’s a lot he’s had to deal with and he’s showing a lot of composure about the whole thing. He doesn’t speak English, he’s been looking for a house and now found one, he’s been learning to drive in England.

“He’s not been flapping about in the goalmouth, he’s been really composed. He’s outstanding.”

Cech, who will face De Gea for the first time today, says any goalkeeper arriving from Spain will need time to adapt. “At West Brom you could see the surprise on his face about how difficult it is here in the box and how to go and get a cross,” Cech said.

“He has never experienced that in Spanish football. It’s normal that he’s been learning. You can see he’s improving every game but we will try and test him again.”

Meanwhile, Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas says leading Premier League sides should be allowed to play their reserve teams in the Football League.

Villas-Boas claims the standard of youth and reserve team football in England is not good enough.

“I would not say the reserve league is up to the level it should be,” he said “B-sides playing League football could be a good option for Chelsea and Manchester United.

“I know it goes against the culture and the historic principles of British football, but I think these B teams should be able to play up to Championship level.”

Villas-Boas added that he expected Nicolas Anelka to leave the club next summer when his contract expires.